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Why Britain’s Most Famous Admiral Had His Corpse Stuffed Into a Liquor Cask
A gross but necessary development
Lord Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, was an enigmatic leader who blended unconventional naval tactics with an iron will to win on his way to becoming one of history’s most decorated naval commanders. Nelson was instrumental in a handful of climactic battles that cemented Britain’s naval supremacy during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. His greatest victory was also his last, as Nelson commanded the famous Battle of Trafalgar with the odds stacked against him.
Britain would go on to win at Trafalgar, one of the greatest in history, after being outgunned by six ships of the line and almost 13,000 soldiers and sailors. But the victory came at a great cost. Admiral Nelson was killed during the course of the battle.
As Nelson was stomping around the deck of his flagship, the HMS Victory, a nearby French sniper perched atop a tall mast, took a shot at the famous admiral. The bullet went through him, leading to a fatal wound.
Nelson knew he was dying and was reported as saying:
Hardy, I do believe they have done it at last …. my backbone is shot through.
